South Dakota Family Law FAQs

• Q: What Is Child Support?
  A: Child support is money parents pay to help other people support their children. The court orders the support. The support may be part of an interim, temporary, … More
• Q: What Is The Central Payment Center?
  A: The Department of Social Services is the central payment center for the state and handles all disbursements. (SDCL 25­7A­3.2) Once the modified order is filed … More
• Q: What Must Be Done Before I Can Get A Child Support Order?
  A: To obtain any type of order, the Child Support office must notify the noncustodial parent that it is trying to establish an order. The Child Support office cannot take … More
• Q: Why Is It Important To Establish A Child's Legal Father?
  A: The establishment of paternity gives a child born outside marriage the same legal rights as a child born to married persons. Children with legal fathers are entitled … More
• Q: What Is The Difference Between A Legal Father And A Biological Father?
  A: Every child has a biological father. The biological father is the man who contributed half of the child`s genetic makeup. The legal father may not be the biological … More
• Q: Who Establishes Support Orders?
  A: The Child Support office or a parent may ask the court to issue a support order. The support order may be part of an interim, temporary, permanent or modified court … More
• Q: How Long Does It Take Ocse To Get An Order For Child Support?
  A: Once a noncustodial parent has been located and if the custodial parent does not have an order for support, the OCSE will serve the noncustodial parent a Notice of … More
• Q: How Is Child Support Obligation Determined When There Is No Court Order?
  A: The SD Legislature established guidelines which courts must use to determine that an equitable share of parental income and resources are allocated to the child when … More
• Q: What Is Medical Support Enforcement?
  A: The court order may specify one of the parents to maintain health insurance coverage. Generally, the noncustodial parent will be required to obtain health insurance, … More
• Q: How Does The Custodial Parent Get The Noncustodial Parent To Pay His Share Of The Medical Bills Not Covered By Insurance?
  A: OCSE does not collect the medical costs not covered by health insurance unless the custodial parent has the amount reduced to a judgment. To obtain a judgment, some … More

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